Advertising sign and the like



NOV. 148,l 1930. E W KNECHTEL 1,781,727 `ADvllRIIsING SIGN AND THE LIKEI Filed Dec. 22, 1927v Ha. a 5

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WwW/MMM IN VEN TOR. @EEA/ 0 WMV/507754 8%, @.@Uwwww I TTORNEY PatentedNov. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES EMERALD W. KNECHTEL, F BELL, CALIFORNIAADVERTISING SIGN AND THE LIKE Application led December 22, 1927. SerialNo. 241,956.

My invention relates to signs, particularly advertising signs.

The objects of my invention are: first, to provide a sign which willresemble conventional advertising signs known as neon signs,

or signs in which the letters are made of illuminated tubes of variouscolors, or of tubes giving off light of various colors; second, toprovide a sign of this class which will be considerably less expensivethan the above mentioned signs and better adapted to smaller signs;third, to provide a sign of this class having narrow letters or symbolswith sharp outlines closely resembling letters made from neon tubes, andwhich will also have a partially illuminated background or portionimmediately adjacent the edges of the sharp outline of letters torepresent the faintly illuminated portions of neon tubes surrounding thebrightly illuminated letters formed by the neon tubes; fourth, toprovide a sign of this class in which the effect of neon tube signs iseffected by light passing through narrow slits in a shield or stencil inwhich the letters are formed and in which the faintly illuminatedbackground is effected by dispersed light directed to either side of thenarrow slits by passing through aA light emitting medium, preferably ofthe color of neon light, which has the capacity to disperse the light inthe desiredmanner fifth, to provide a sign of this class in which theletters are formed by opposed shields or stencils having letters ofdifferent widths and between which is positioned a light emitting anddispersing medium giving respectively a sharp narrow outline of theletter and a sharp outline of a faintly illuminated portion surroundingthe letter of sharp outline; sixth, to provide as a whole a novellyconstructed sign of this class; and, seventh, to provide a sign of thisclass which is particularly simple of construction, durable and whichwill not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

lVith these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the charactersthereon which form a part of this application in which Figure 1 is afragmentary front elevational View of a sign showing the letters as theyappear when illuminated; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional p viewthereof taken through 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectionalview thereof taken through 3 3 of Fig. `2; and, Figs. 4 and 5 are eachsectional 60 views similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but showing slightlymodied forms of construction.

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portionsthroughout the views of the drawings. y

My sign, whether of a small portable type or a large store frontadvertising sign, is preferably embodied in a frame or housing 1 havingan open front wall or open opposite walls la and in which is positionedone or a plurality of lights, lamps, or other illuminating means 2. Theportion of the sign constituting the principal part of my invention isthat portion covering the opening, or openings, of the housing andthrough which the light from the lamps 2 is directed for forming theletters or other symbols. It will be here noted that although I haveshown and referred vonly to letters or symbol of signs, these terms areintended to signify all symbols, characters, signs, and designs whichmay be illustrated on s1gns.

The light emit-ting or letter forming portions of the sign consists, asillustrated in Fig. 2, of an outer glass plate 3 positioned over theopening of the housing, a-shield 4 placed at the back side thereof,another glass plate 5 positioned against the inner side of the shield 4and holding the latter in position against the plate 3, a translucentand light dispersing medium 6 positioned against the inner side of theplate 5, another shield 7 positioned against the inner side of themedium 6 and a reinforcing member 8. These members are all held togetheragainst the housing over the opening thereof by any suitable retainingmeans, as indicated by 9. The shields 4 and 7 may be made of any opaquematerial, such as black paper, black metal, or

v 1y by 4 and 7a.

Vsecured to the plate 5. The letters in the shields are formed by openins so as to emit light throughthe openings orming illuminated lettershaving dark backgrounds. The letters in the inner shield 7 are formed byrelatively narrow slits which are preferably of the width of theilluminating portions of neon tubes, while the openings in the shield 4are relatively wider but are directly in front of the narrow slits, asindicated, respectivepersing medium 6 consists of a sheet of materialcommercially known as casein plastic, or which is also commonly known asGalalith, and made from casein. This substance may be made in differentcolors and in the shades of neon light. This medium isparticularly notedfor its lig-ht transmitting qualities. Applicant has found also thatlight passing through this substance disperses readily through the bodyforming a faint light or illumination beyond the portion which isdirectly illuminated. This substance is also translucent so that theoutline of the letters formed by the slits 7a cannot be seen from thefront side' unless the light is operated. Therefore, light directed fromthe inside toward the inner side of the shield 7 will direct lightthrough the slit 7a and through the medium 6 giving a relatively sharpoutline of the letter in the manner and color desired. A portion of thisli ht is' dispersed through the medium giving a aintly illuminated fieldimmediately surrounding the brightly illuminated letter. This field isof considerable width but is limited from view by the opening 4a in theshield 4, thus giving a limited field of faintly illuminated portionsimmediately around the bright portions of the letter. When the medium 6referred to is subjected to heat, the same is likel to warp, thusdestroying the effect desired.

n order to remedy this defect, I have provided reinforcing strips 8which may be positioned between adjacent edges of'such mediums and alsoagainst the inner sides of the portions adjacent the edges, as shownbest in Fig. 3. These reinforcin strips may be secured at their ends byte retaining members 9, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted thatinstead of the reinforcing strip 8, another glass late 9 may bepositioned over the back side o? the shield 7.

In the modified form of construction, I have eliminated the glass plate5 between the shield 4 and the light dispersing medium 6, and have alsoprovided a glass plate 9 at the The light emitting and dis-l inner sideof theshield 7, as referretf to'iin the last paragraph. t

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, all glass plates have beendispensed with and only the shields, or stencils applied to the oppositesides of the medium 6. It will be noted that in case such a constructionis desired, the shields 4 and 7 may be made of vinclude in the scope ofmy invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantiallyas set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a. means of the class described, a translucent light transmittinormedium, an opaque shield having open letters therein positioned at oneside of the medium, and another shield having corresponding letterspositioned at the opposite side of the medium, the letters of the lattershield being wider than"those of the first shield and positioned infront of the same.,

2. In a means of the class described, a translucent light transmittingmedium, an opaque shield having open letters therein positioned at oneside of the medium, and another shield having corresponding letterspositioned at the opposite side of the medium, the letters of thelatterr shield being wider than those of the first shield and positionedcentrally in front of the same.

3. In a means of the class described, a translucent light transmittingmedium, a stencil having letters therein positioned at one side of themedium, and another stencil with corresponding letters thereinpositioned at the opposite side of the medium, the letters of the latterstencil being considerably wider than those of the first stencil andpositioned opposite the same.

4. In a means of the class described, a light transmitting anddispersing medium, a shield having narrow letters therein positioned atone side of the medium and another shield having wide correspondingletters therein positioned at the opposite side of the medium with theletters of the latter positioned opposite the letters of the lirstshield.

5. In a means of the class described, a translucent light dispersing andlight transmitting medium, a shield having narrow letters thereinpositioned at one side of the inedium and another shield having Widecorresecond shi sponding letters therein positioned at the opposite sideof the medium with the letters of the latter positioned opposite theletters of the first shield.

6. In a means of the class described, a colored light transmitting anddispersing medium. a shield having narrow letters therein positioned atone side of the medium and another shield having Wide correspondingletters therein positioned at the opposite side of the medium with theletters of the latter positioned opposite the letters of the firstshield.

7. In a means of the class described, a translucent light transn'iittingmedium, a shield having narrow letters therein positioned at one side ofthe medium, another shield having wide corresponding letters thereinpositioned at the opposite side of' the medium with the letters thereofopposite the letters of the first shield, and a light transmitting platepositioned at the outer side of the second shield.

8. In a means of the class described, a translucent light transmittingmedium, a shield having narrow letters therein positioned at one side ofthe medium, another shield having wide corresponding letters thereinpositioned at the opposite side of the medium with the letters thereofopposite the letters of the first shield, a light transmitting plateositioned at the outer side of the elld, and a reinforcingv means at theside of the medium at which said first shield is positioned.

9. In a means of the class described, a translucent light transmittingmedium, a shield havingnarrow letters therein positioned at one side ofthe medium, another shield having wide corresponding letters thereinpositioned at the opposite side of the medium with the letters thereofopposite the letters of the first shield, a light transmitting platepositioned at the outer side of the second shield, and means supportingthe side of the medium at which the first shield is positioned.

10. In a means of the class described, a translucent light transmittingmedium, a shield having narrow letters therein positioned at the innerside of the medium, a transparent plate positioned against the oppositesides of the medium, another shield having Wide letters thereincorresponding` to and positioned opposite the letters of the firstshield.

l1. In a means of the class described, a translucent light transmittingmedium, a shield having narrow letters therein positioned at the innerside of the medium, a

'transparent plate positioned against the opsitioned against the outerside of the second shield.

12. In a means of the class described, a translucent light transmittingmedium, a shield having narrow letters therein positioned at the innerside of the medium, a transparent plate positioned against the oppositesides of the medium, another shield having wide letters thereincorresponding to and positioned opposite the letters of the firstshield, another transparent plate positioned against the outer side ofthe second shield, and reinforcing means at the inner side of saidmedium.

13. -In a means of the class described, a light transmitting anddispersing medium, a shield having letters therein positioned at oneside of the medium, and a shield means at the opposite side of themedium, said shield means having letters of differentwidthsfrom those inthe shield adapted to permit dispersion of light through the mediumbetween the edges of the corresponding letters, forming a shaded outlineof the letter.

14. In a means of the class described, a translucent flexible lighttransmitting and light dispersing medium, shield means at the oppositesides of the medium provided with superposed letters in each at theoppo-site sides of the medium, and rigid supporting means at theopposite sides of said medium for supporting the same inposition'therebetween.

15. In a means of the class described, a translucent flexible lighttransmitting medium, and rigid supporting means at the opposite sides ofsaid medium for sustaining said medium securely therebetween, thesupporting means at the opposite sides of the medium having associatedtherewith letters of different sizes at the opposite sides of themedium, the letters at one side being superpcsed relative to the lettersat the opposite s1 e.

16. A composite unit for closing the display opening of an illuminatedcasing, said unit comprising a light transmitting sheet, means providingan opaque medium at each side of said sheet, each medium having astencil opening therein, said openings being of similar outline andarranged in alinement, and one of said openings being greater in areathan the other, and means for imparting color to light passing throughVthe unit toward the larger of said openings.

17. The combination with a casing of a source of light arranged thereinand a composite unit constituting the front Wall of said casing; saidunit comprising a light transmitting sheet, means providing an opaquemedium at each side of said sheet, each medium having a stencil openingtherein, said openings being of similar outline and arranged inalinement in the path of the rays of light from said source, the rearopening being smaller than the other one, and means for imparting colorto the ra s of light passing from said souice throng said unit.

18. A composite unit for closing the display opening of an illuminatedcasing, said unit comprising a colored translucent Sheet, meansproviding an opaque medium at each side ofsaid sheet, each medium havinga stencil opening therein, the openings being alined, and of similaroutline, and one of said openings being of smaller area than the other.

19. In a sign comprising a housing with a source of light therein; acomposite display unit constituting a Wall of said housing arranged infront of said light; said unit comprising a translucent member, opaquemeans in front of said member having a stencil opening therein, opaquemeans in rear of said member having a stencil opening in alinement withthe first mentioned opening and of similar outline but of smaller crosssectional area and means, arranged between said opaque means forimparting color to the rays of light rom said source.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set myy hand at Los Angeles,California, this 14th day of December, 1927.

EMERALD W. KNECHTEL.

